You've Got People Problems

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Jennifer Guidry, founder and CEO of Solomon Advising, to talk about what it really takes to build well-rounded teams—and why forcing square pegs into round holes only holds businesses back. You’ll learn how to: +Recognize when someone’s gifts don’t align with their role +Develop teams that balance marketing, operations, an...

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Philip Samuel Raj, founder and CEO of TechJs, to talk about the intersection of AI, culture, and leadership. With a mission to help every individual and business transform with AI, Philip brings a unique lens on how disruption can be both technological and human. You’ll learn how to: +Embrace AI as a tool for transformatio...

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Octavia “Tav” Treadway, founder and Chief Greatness Officer of You’re Carrying Something Great, to explore why leaders so often mistake system problems for people problems. You’ll learn how to: +Distinguish between challenges rooted in systems versus individual performance +Avoid wasting time and resources by solving the w...

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Mary Akioka to talk about how leaders can better engage and retain the skilled trades workforce. These are the “industrial athletes” who build our communities, often in extreme conditions, where trust, safety, and strong leadership matter most. You’ll learn how to: +See frontline workers as “industrial athletes” and lead t...

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems , Melissa sits down with Ajay Malik—founder of StudioX and former leader at Google and Cisco—to explore why degrees and formal qualifications shouldn’t be the gatekeepers for great talent. Ajay shares how his own hiring experiences have proven that skill, creativity, and problem-solving matter far more than what’s listed on a diploma. You’ll learn how...

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems , Melissa Ortiz talks with Lauren Fisher, Senior HR Business Partner at Tru HR Solutions, about the game-changing leadership concept Who, Not How . They explore why shifting your focus from doing it yourself to finding the right person can save time, increase effectiveness, and strengthen your team. You’ll learn: How “Who, Not How” applies to leaders i...

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa sits down with William Uranga to dig into the real-world talent acquisition challenges that growth-focused companies face. From the very first candidate interaction to the first days on the job, every step of the journey matters. You’ll learn how to: + Design a candidate journey that feels intentional—not transactional + Structure debriefs so...

In this episode, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Paisley Coxsey to talk about what happens when leaders finally stop trying to carry the whole business themselves—and start creating alignment across their team. Paisley shares her journey as a Fractional COO, what it means to “lead second,” and how clarity (not just hustle) is what actually moves the needle. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the weeds, uns...

In this episode of You’ve Got People Problems , Melissa Ortiz is joined by Doug Thorpe to dive deep into one of the most overlooked growth tools: role clarity . From onboarding to accountability to team development, Doug shares how clearly defining roles can prevent misalignment, improve retention, and unlock better performance across the board. Whether you're scaling your company or just try...

In Episode 17 of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz is joined by Amy Morin—an accomplished entrepreneur who built, scaled, and sold a business from the ground up, reaching $40M in revenue across multiple states and industries, including Tax and Financial Services. In this episode, they explore the people problems behind sales — and why revenue struggles are often leadership and alignment pr...

In Episode 16 of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with entrepreneur and multi-business owner Matt Hahne—creator of the Supervisor Playbook—for one of the most exciting and practical conversations yet. Matt wears many hats, including business coach, cofounder of an executive financial group, and EOS® Implementer.  This episode is packed with real-life examples, practical leadersh...

In Episode 15 of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with Ellie Prentice, an HR leader in the nonprofit space, for a powerful conversation about the role language plays in leadership. From everyday feedback to big-picture messaging, the words we choose can either build trust or quietly erode culture. Ellie shares practical examples and lessons from her work, highlighting how intent...

In Episode 14, Melissa Ortiz is joined by Healthful founder Nora Zuniga for a candid and insightful conversation about what happens when your work no longer fits. They explore: + The signs that your role might be out of alignment + How to pivot with clarity and confidence +Why benefits and support systems can make or break small business growth +The mission behind Healthful and how Nora supports e...

In Episode 13 of You’ve Got People Problems, Melissa Ortiz sits down with entrepreneur and business owner Amanda Barkey to unpack one of the most powerful (and underrated) skills in leadership: expectation setting. Together, they talk about: + Why guessing at work leads to burnout and misalignment + The soft skills that actually move teams forward + Amanda’s journey scaling a top franchise and piv...

In Episode 12 of You’ve Got People Problems , host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Phil Kristianson—President in the manufacturing and construction space, peer group facilitator, and trusted leadership advisor—to explore how peer forums create the space leaders need to grow, reflect, and get unstuck. This discuss: + Why peer groups are critical for leadership growth and avoiding burnout + The key dif...

In Episode 11 of You’ve Got People Problems , host Melissa Ortiz is joined by Chris Castillo—a seasoned entrepreneur in the coaching and marketing space and an experienced exit strategist—to discuss the real leadership work required when preparing for a sale or transition. They discuss: + Why waiting too long to prepare can cost you more than just dollars + The people dynamics that often go unnoti...

In Episode 10 of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Misha Homara and Rainee Busby to explore how EOS and Predictive Index help leaders create clarity, accountability, and alignment across their teams. During this episode they discuss:  + How to apply the GWC framework (Get it, Want it, Capacity) with confidence + Why most team issues stem from unclear roles and misaligne...

In Episode 9 of You’ve Got People Problems , host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Krisha Buehler, COO in the virtual assistant space, and Byron Attridge, a sustainable tech executive and EOS® Implementer, to explore how Predictive Index (PI) and EOS® work together to solve some of the toughest people challenges. From uncovering hidden team dynamics to creating role clarity and alignment, they share r...

In Episode 7 of You’ve Got People Problems , Melissa Ortiz sits down with Bill Gerard—EOS® Implementer and former Senior Management Consultant and Director at Merrill Lynch—to talk about why smart leaders are always recruiting, even when they’re not hiring. Bill shares why having a proactive talent strategy matters, what to look for before you need it, and how staying ready can be the difference b...

In Episode 8 of You’ve Got People Problems , host Melissa Ortiz sits down with entrepreneur and advisor Leslie Camacho to break down how leaders can use EOS® and Predictive Index (PI) to build teams that are aligned, accountable, and set up for success. From hiring and onboarding to long-term team health, Leslie shares practical strategies for creating clarity, boosting performance, and making sur...

In Episode 6 of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Renee Russo, a Certified Exit Planning Advisor with extensive experience across SaaS, automotive manufacturing, and a range of other industries. Together, they unpack why exit planning isn’t just about selling—it’s about building a business that gives you freedom, flexibility, and future options. Whether you’re years awa...

In Episode 5 of You’ve Got People Problems , host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Randy McDougall—an expert in building strong team dynamics across industries like architecture and law. Together, they unpack what it really takes to foster a culture rooted in trust, ownership, and accountability—without relying on shame or blame. They discuss: How avoiding tough conversations makes leadership harder,...

In Episode 2 of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Emily Ransone and Vince Korta to explore how leaders can use data-driven insights to improve feedback, accountability, and team performance. Whether you struggle with tough conversations or want to create a culture of empowerment and clarity, this episode gives you practical strategies to make feedback work for your team...

In Episode 3 of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Jackie Kibler and April Narag to discuss how leaders can refine their hiring process, leverage the right tools, and stop making people decisions based on gut instinct alone. They get into: + Why so many companies struggle to find the right talent + The  biggest hiring mistakes and how to avoid them + How internal structu...

In Episode 4 of You’ve Got People Problems, host Melissa Ortiz sits down with Amy Courter—a seasoned executive and respected board leader. Together, they explore how leaders can foster real accountability without blame, and build workplaces grounded in clarity, kindness, and ownership.  They discuss:  + The difference between being nice and being kind in leadership + Why assumed positive intent le...